ietravel's blog

Heavy on rice and beans, Costa Rican cuisine also incorporates ingredients native to the country like beef, chicken and fish.

Costa Rican cuisine is known for being simple and not highly seasoned, which, for some, makes it less than memorable. But as you travel throughout Costa Rica, foodies can find an infusion of flavors from around the world. Whether looking for a French, Italian, Peruvian or Japanese dish, it can be found on your Costa Rica tour!

Of the myriad species spotted on Galapagos Islands cruises, most travelers expect to see rare and exotic species of sea turtles. Now it seems that the days when vacationers could see the ancient Pinta tortoise could be numbered, as the species has dwindled down to a single representative.

Vivid violet fish, round-nosed dolphins and lizards with turquoise spots were some of the 1,060 news species discovered on Papua New Guinea between 1998 and 2008, according to the World Wildlife Fund (WWF).

For 31 years, International Expeditions has taken great pride in helping you discover natural frontiers and Earth's most storied wildlife regions. But whether we are taking travelers into the depths of the Amazon or the villages of Papua New Guinea, every IE journey started out as a dream in the heads and hearts of our team.

The Galapagos Islands are truly unique in the world. The opportunity to walk among curious and unafraid wildlife is just extraordinary. I have been fortunate to have been to the Galapagos many times, but the experience of being with wildlife that is so accessible, wildlife that is unafraid and non-threatening, is always joyous and amazing.

India has a wealth to offer international tourists, from nature travel in the rich Western Ghats to the urban explorations afforded by the modern metropolis of Mumbai. Plus, the vibrant Indian culture draws travelers from across the globe. Modern explorers looking for a unique glimpse of the both the native culture and amazing wildlife can join International Expeditions’ India Tiger Safari, which includes a stop in Khajuraho. This small town is famed for its temples featuring exquisite — and often erotic — depictions of the Hindu and Jain pantheons of gods.

Paddling along the Clarinho River in Brazil's northern Pantanal will offer many fantastic wildlife sightings, but the capybara may be one of the most interesting for those seeking a rich nature travel experience.

Resembling both a guinea pig and a beaver, the 100-pound mammal is the largest rodent in the world. Found in several South American countries, the capybara lives in the dense vegetation that surrounds lakes, rivers, marshes and ponds, which is why visitors to the Pantanal — a spectacular wilderness of wetlands — are likely to see one.

During your afternoon at leisure in Cusco on Day 6 of IE’s Machu Picchu tour, consider strolling through the streets of the San Blas District. Artisans have established their homes and workshops in San Blas – many teaching the younger generation of Peruvians traditional crafting techniques. This is a perfect chance to pick up a one-of-a-kind souvenir!

Just a strip carved out of Senegal, The Gambia may seem like it does not have much to offer. However, for those seeking nature travel experiences in this remote part of Africa, The Gambia hosts some of the continent's finest treasures. In fact, the nation has been dedicated to preserving the natural environment ever since the 1977 Banjul Declaration, which states the country's commitment to conservation.

The hot, arid bushland that visitors traverse on a Kenya safari is exactly the type of habitat the Beisa oryx likes. Once found all across the drier regions of Africa, about 33,000 oryx are now found in Eastern Africa from Ethiopia to northeastern Uganda and Kenya, 25,000 of which are Beisa oryx.